Must Read: The Lost Key – Season 1 Episode 4 – Stories

“Don’t you know that we are searching for the lost key? Everybody is busy trying to locate it, instead of coming out to help; you
isolate yourself in your room.” She replied.

“Leave my room, the key is not here. I am not with the key. What will I be doing with it here; please you guys should leave me
alone. I am not in the mood for your problems.”

“Look at the dirty room you are telling me to leave, you are not even happy I am stepping my legs into this refuse dump.”

“Thank you, my room is a refuse dump, now leave.”

She angrily b@nged the door behind her she left the room and entered my room.

My door was already opened so she walked straight in. she started searching all over like it was her room, I didn’t speak with her.
We had a brief quarrel last night before I went to bed. Something that led her to hit me while I rained abuses on her and reminding
her of how she follows men.

When she was through, she walked out of the room without saying a word to me. I wanted to hiss loudly so that she could hear it but
dad was around and I knew she wouldn’t let it go if she hears the hiss. I didn’t want dad taking out his already ignited tantrum on
us. The day was already starting badly.

She met my mum in the sitting room. There was no need to speak. They stopped helplessly wondering where the key was. They begin to
search between and within the seats.

Dad came out of the room and went straight to the door; he stopped and stared at it, as if asking himself ‘what should I do now?’
There was no possibility of breaking down the strong metallic bullet proof door. A few months ago, dad had angrily and suddenly
relieved the gateman of his duties because of a pardonable mistake. Now there was nobody outside the compound that he could call to
help him pull some stunts outside. Dad had no driver; dad was very impatient with drivers.

The spare key got lost almost seven months ago, it was Johns fault. We have been managing this single remaining key since then. The
back door key which was occasionally used was in the same bunch with the exit door key. There was just no way out. Who would have
imagined that this would be our plight on this Monday morning?

I think dad was thinking of who he would call that would help him get some professionals to help him break down the door, because
he was busy with his cell phone.

“Where could this key be?” Mum whispered. The mistake she made was that she allowed dad to hear it.

“You can continue asking yourself such a stupid question. But have you taken you time to imagine how you sound with such words
coming out of your lips?”

Mum looked at him helplessly, she was already getting used to him and the way he talked. “I am not as stupid as you take me for you
know, I am sure I kept the key on this table, why should whatever happened to it after I kept it be my fault? Why don’t you believe
me when I say that I kept it here?”

“I can only believe you when…”

His cell phone rang, his boss.

He took a long breath before answering the call.

“I can’t believe you are not yet in the office, are you okay?” His boss quickly said before dad could say hello.

“I just have a little set back I will soon be there sir,” dad said. He was trying to sound confident.

“Do you know what time it is? This is after eight. You should be here in the next ten minutes, I am waiting.”

The line went dead before dad could give his fake reassurance speech.

He looked at mum, “do you see what you are making me pass through?” His voice was loud. He was now ready to let out the whole anger
he felt.

You see, the thunder like emotion called anger has a way of obscuring any intent we have. Remember, dad was trying to call someone
who would help him break down the door. Instead he spent valuable time calling mum silly, I didn’t think mum was the silly one here.

“Do you know this might cause me my job?” he continued in a much louder tone. “What do you stand to gain by doing this? You might
think this is a joke but it is not. This morning meeting is one that I cannot afford to miss. I have with me here, important
company documents that will be needed for the meeting. If I don’t attend it, it will be the greatest catastrophe of all times.”

Mum couldn’t take it any longer, “oh please spare me the lectures. Office this office that. Don’t you realize that you are not the
only one who is supposed to have left the house by now? Your children also have to attend school you know. How can shouting and
blaming me be the solution to the problem we have now?”

“Locate the key! Locate it!! That will go a long way in solving the problem you have caused.” He retorted.
“
I don’t know where the key is! I have searched everywhere and I can’t find it!! You can either stand here and blame me all day or
you, for once, start thinking like a manager that you are and solve the problem!!” she returned.

I can’t remember if I have ever seen mum this angry. Now this was even the first time she was talking back to dad in such a
way. “And you can count me out when you decide to involve yourself in any problem solving activity. I won’t be part of it. I don’t
care about your meeting and I don’t even care if you lose your job or not!! This is your house perhaps it’s high time you sit down
here for once!” she walked out of the sitting room, into the bedroom.

“Okay, now you are gradually coming out with the truth, so you want me to sit here with you? He replied.

Ada also quickly left the sitting room, leaving dad all alone in the sitting room. He seemed shock. He didn’t expect such outburst
from mum.

He dialed a friend’s number “Hello… yes, can you help me get someone who can help me break down my door? Yes, a welder or
carpenter, but I think a welder will be better since the door is a metal door… okay, I will be waiting. Thank you.”

He dropped the call and looked at the wall clock, 8.35am. He was exhausted. He sat on the closest leather seat next to him, staring
at his phone like his life depended on it.

“The welder I know is not reachable at the moment. But I spoke with a friend who gave me another’s number but I called him and he
said he is not in town but will forward me a friend’s number. I will send the number to you when he sends the number to me.” His
friend said.

“Oh my God” dad exclaimed, “please try and make him send the number immediately, the earlier the better.”

“I will try my best.”

“Okay, I will be waiting.” His cell phone rang again immediately he cut the call, it was his boss again.

“What is going on Mr. Ikedia? Is there something you are not telling me? The guests are already arriving for the meeting and you
are not yet here. I need you here with those documents right now.”

How could dad tell him that he was locked up in his own house? Dad hated sounding stupid, maybe because he was fund of calling
others stupid.

“Sir, I will be there before nine, I promise. I will soon be there.”

“Where are you now?” his boss asked

“I am on my way; I said I will soon be there sir.”

“You better be, I won’t tolerate any late coming.” He cut the line before dad could reassure him again.

Dad stood up and started walking from one place to the other within the sitting room. A text message entered his phone. A welder’s
number. Dad quickly dialed the number.

“Hello, is that welder?”

“Yes who be this?” replied the incautious voice.

Please I need you to come to my house immediately and help me break down my bullet proof door.”

“Oga, I de busy now, I no sure say I fit come.” Came the reply.

“Please send me your boy or any other welder you know.” Dad pleaded.

“Ahh, all my boys de busyoo, I no get welder number now. But give me two hours, I go come.”

“Two hours is too late, I need you now.”

“Okay, I go try, send me your address.”

“Thank you, please try and come immediately, I will pay you anything. I will send you the address now.” Dad dropped the call and
quickly sent our house address via text message.